You can also use Tylan50 injectable as a sinus and eye flush. It helps speed the course of healing. Tylan50 injectable also is only a three day treatment if you use the injectable over the soluble. But it causes meat bruises if you have market birds. Don't eat the eggs for 14 days; that's the standard withdrawal. All antibiotics should have withdrawal at a treatment dosage.
There are different strengths of Tylan injectable so if you go to buy it, get the Tylan50.
I would also highly recommend doing supportive therapy to increase healing. This is good for respiratory illnesses caused by ANY organism (fungal, viral, bacterial, etc). First vitamin A is a very important vitamin for respiratory and ocular health. You can spray cod liver oil on the birds' feed twice weekly to great effect. Or "fortified" wheat germ oil (make sure it says it's fortified with A, D, and E - found in the horse section of feed stores). Same treatment dosage.
I second Purple's advice on the probiotics. If you find it easier, Probios powder for livestock can be used sprinkled on the feed (realy great during the oil-spritzed feed days). If you feed yogurt, some like it straight, others like it in a damp mash made of feed and water - then yogurt added. You must use daily during treatment, then every other day after for a week or so. If you don't use Tylan and for some reason go with the cyclines (I would not recommend it personally) then you cannot use yogurt - you must use a Probios brand type of probiotic, or acidophilis capsules/tablets crushed/emptied onto food.
It's very important to boost digestive tract health during respiratory illnesses because the eyes and nose drain into the digestive tract, all that extra fluid and at least secondary bacteria disturbing the normal healthy flora of the gut.
I personally am a huge believer in VetRx to help facilitate breathing. Birds that can't breathe won't eat. It also reduces mucus, can help reduce inflammation, and gets air into the sinuses (which helps reduce the change of congestion and bacterial blooms). You can mix with water and mist them with it as you're talking about a flock. Or alternately you can take the worst individuals and mix equal amounts of VetRx drops in very hot water in a cup. stir very well to emulsify the oil into the water and cool it to warm. Then use q-tips soaked in it to clean the nostrils, the cleft in the roof of the mouth (which fumes the whole sinuses) and under the eyes of those birds with ocular involvement. It would only take the small 2 ounce bottle as it's very concentrated.
So my advice:
Treat with a good antibiotic like Tylan if you choose to treat.
Treat daily with yogurt (unless you use a cycline or mycin drug, not recommended)
Spray feed twice weekly with cod liver oil or fortified wheat germ oil to increase healing and boost immune systems.
Use VetRx on at least the worst sick birds to facilitate breathing and decrease inflammation/mucus.
If you find anything changes, please update *this* thread as you have subscribers.
I'd also check carefully to make sure your birds are all on a diet that consists of at least 90% completely fortified crumbles or pellets, age appropriate. If over four weeks, they should all have grit (of chick or adult size). If over five months, they should all have oyster shell free choice. Make all soluble antibiotic solutions fresh daily. Disinfect all waterers and feeders now and after illness to remove the droplets of their infected slobber and nasal secretions that they've spread. do not mix anything in the water that is treated with antibiotics; give vitamins on the feed. If you have other birds, handle the ill flock last - using a big man's shirt or something like coveralls when you do to prevent disease spread. Keeping antibacterial hand gel in the coop to use when you leave helps you from infecting door knobs. Make sure your whole family knows to avoid the sick birds until you're done.
